African parliaments have been challenged to use their responsibility in passing national budgets to ensure more resources are channelled towards funding education.
This was said by parliamentarians attending a workshop on education at the ongoing third session of the Sixth Pan African Parliament here yesterday.
The workshop was held in line with the AU's theme for 2024: "Educate an African fit for the 21st century. Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality and relevant learning in Africa."
In his remarks, PAP president Chief Fortune Charumbira acknowledged the improvements in funding education by lower middle-income countries.
"National budgets now account for 88 percent of school meals financing, up from 55 percent in 2013.
"While these strides are commendable, it is sad to note that in this 21st century, Africa still faces the most significant challenges globally in the education sector. Some of the gains that Africa had made were reversed by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.
Statistics show that about 98 million children in Africa are out of school, while nine out of 10 cannot read and comprehend a simple text by age 10.
"Sadly, as demonstrated by the out of school statistics I alluded to earlier, the reality is that there are still many children on the continent that do not enjoy this right as there are inequalities that are evident in the existing educational systems based on region, gender and economic status.
"This obviously means that securing the necessary resources to reform our education system is non-negotiable. In this regard, African parliamentarians have a critical role to play to play in ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to this important sector nationally and continentally. We need to leverage on our control of the national purse to mobilise adequate resources to equip young people with quality education and in-demand skills, and to empower all children regardless of gender, status, level of education or ability, so that no one is left behind," Chief Charumbira said.
He said there is a need for a shift in the education systems on the continent with a bias towards practical subjects that produce things that are needed in day to day lives.
Contributing to the discussion, Senator Stuky Motsa from Eswatini called for more resources to be channelled towards children with disabilities.
"Funding for children with disabilities are included in vulnerable people but I think they should stand out on their own. Issues of children with disabilities are treated as a by-the-way issue, which is not inclusive," she said.
Ms Amina Ali from Chad called for more funding targeting women and girls.
"There's more that needs to be done for women and girls' because they still lag behind. Issues of women and girls' education are still not being taken seriously on the continent," she said.
Participants in the workshop also called for increased use of local languages in teaching to improve comprehension among children. Some children can't read because they are not being taught in their own language.